St Luke’s Church Parish Profile

Governance and Leadership (continued)
Unpaid Staff
As an Episcopal church, St. Luke’s is governed by a Vestry, which comprises a Senior and Junior
Warden and nine Vestry members. The wardens typically serve for two years each; Vestry members sign
on for a three-year term. In addition, the parish elects a Clerk and Treasurer at each annual meeting.
The Rev. Deacon Dorothy L. “Ricky” Brightman has been assigned to St. Luke’s by the Bishop of
Rhode Island. Ricky focuses on outreach and also heads up the Interfaith Social Concerns Committee.
She will be reassigned with the arrival of our new Rector. It is our hope that another Deacon will be
sent to St. Luke’s. Of course, the request for a new Deacon would come from the new Rector to the
Bishop after the new Rector has become established at St. Luke’s, and we recognize the demand for
vocational deacons in the diocese is high while the supply is currently short.
Volunteers Sandy and Peggy Rubel co-chair the Property Committee, which is responsible for
property repair, landscaping, and snow removal budgets. They report directly to the Junior Warden.
Evelyn Brchan is our Membership Coordinator. She works closely with the Newcomer Committee,
Administrative Assistant, and Greeters to stay closely connected to the various groups that make up our
parish. She assists the Stewardship Committee during its annual fall campaign by recording the pledge
receipts, issuing offering envelopes, and tracking donations as well as other important information
about parishioners throughout the year.
Lay Leadership
St. Luke’s has a legacy of active lay
leadership at the parish, diocesan,
and national levels. Members of
St. Luke’s have served on Diocesan
Council; Standing Committee;
Commissions on Ministry, Finance,
Investments; Congregational
Development; Episcopal Charities;
Companion Diocese; Mission Task
Force; 2015 Task Force; St Mary’s
Home for Children; Clergy
Compensation and Benefits
Committee; Executive Council
of The Episcopal Church;
and as delegates to Province I “We want to maintain the same high level of volunteer
and General Convention.
service under the leadership of our new Rector.”
Many groups and ministries are
managed and coordinated by
unpaid lay members at St. Luke’s. Our previous Rector did an excellent job of helping parishioners to
discover what God was calling them to do at St. Luke’s, and then empowering them to do it. We want
to maintain the same high level of volunteer service under the leadership of our new Rector. It allows
many dedicated and committed parishioners to get involved at St. Luke’s.
All groups and ministries serve the Rector, the Wardens, and the Vestry. Their respective
coordinators submit reports that are published in the St. Luke’s Church Annual Report. A copy
of the 2010 Annual Report is available to all Rector candidates upon request.
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church: P a r i s h P r o f i l e 2 0 1 1 18